‘Lovely time’: Viral mascot’s dad pleads Arsenal player witch-hunt called off as Piers Morgan criticises stars

Arsenal superfan Piers Morgan is the latest celebrity to add his voice to criticism of Gunners players in a video shared online by the club over the weekend.

The official Arsenal Twitter account posted a clip of a young mascot getting a shirt signed by the first-team squad, most of whom didn't greet or even look at the child when adding their autograph when arriving ahead of the meeting with West Ham - which Arsenal went on to draw 2-2 in a disappointing result for the side.

Mikel Arteta, Aaron Ramsdale, Gabriel Jesus, Martin Odegaard, Leandro Trossard and Bukayo Saka are just some of a long line of Arsenal players who stop to sign the shirt in the one minute and 49 seconds video.

Arsenal shared the post with the caption: "Making memories with our mascot."

The Tweet has now had over 38 million views, over 5,700 replies and over 7,300 retweets as football fans from across the world gave their opinion on whether Arsenal stars had been rude to the mascot.

On Tuesday, Piers Morgan was the latest famous face to add his thoughts and said: "Come on guys, at least one of you say hello to her?!!"

Television presenter and DIY SOS star Nick Knowles also chimed in on the matter and said: "I have to say that’s the strangest thing that whoever posted this at @Arsenal thought this showed everyone in a good light?"

Knowles went on to admit that he had been told Arsenal players "are usually pretty good" and added they must've had "all had a bad day at the same time".

Meanwhile, football fans from rival clubs used the chance to compare the video with positive mascot and player experiences they had seen as others labelled the club's Tweet a "really impressive self-own" and labelled Gunners stars 'selfish', 'entitled' and 'disgraceful'.

One user replied: "Maybe you should invite her back to actually meet her idols? Rather than be blanked by them. Just a thought."

However, as disapproval rages on across social media, an account that appears to be the father of the young girl has come forward to call off the witch-hunt.

Sharing a photo of the mascot holding Martin Odegaard's hand and walking out onto the pitch at the London Stadium, the dad wrote: "My daughter had a lovely time as Mascot for @Arsenal.

"There was only a small window to meet the players and she enjoyed it very much. Odegaard is her favourite player so to hold his hand onto the pitch was very special."